EVEN though most will remember his game for his blistering burst of three goals in the third quarter which ultimately swayed the game in Carlton's favour, it was easy to tell early against the Sydney Swans that Eddie Betts was on his game.

Sometimes, for some players, all it takes is a slight touch. A nudge of the ball, a quick bump of a body, or the smallest of deflections.

Against the Swans, it was Betts' reading of the ball.

After Swan Ben McGlynn had kicked the night's opening goal a long ball sailed into Carlton's forward line and, thanks to the rain, skidded through and past a number of players. Betts read it best.

He made sure his tight-checking opponent Nick Smith was out of the contest and then sped off, reeling the ball in before it went through the points and kicking it with the outside of his boot.

After a poor opening five games of the season, in which he had averaged 11 disposals and kicked only seven goals, Betts gave a smile of relief. Maybe he could feel he was in for an influential night.

After kicking the first goal, he played an important part in Carlton's next two.

It won't go down as a possession, but he flicked the ball from a contested situation to Jarrad Waite to kick the Blues' second, and, after Betts had effectively put pressure on the Swan ball-carrier in the middle of the ground, Aaron Joseph snapped a goal.

Sometimes, it's the little things that make a big difference. All the best sportspeople do the basics well, and this was no different.

The total of Betts' small efforts had made a big sum, but it was only after half time that he started to reap the rewards. Luck, finally, was on his side.

Betts swiftly kicked three successive goals and put Carlton into the lead when they had looked out of the game, going from 17 points down to one points in front.

One goal came from a tackle being rewarded with a free kick for holding the ball. Another was from reading the ball over the back of the pack and running the goal in, and the last was a chest mark.

All of a sudden, Betts himself wasn't the only one smiling; he had ignited his side and a small but loud group of Carlton supporters

Chris Judd will win many plaudits for his performance, and they will all be deserved, but he needed someone to put the finishing touches on his work up the middle. That someone, at least on Friday night, was Betts.

His persistence was rewarded, as was Carlton coach Brett Ratten's, who showed faith in the underperforming 24-year-old by giving him several chances to impress early this season.

By the end of the night, as Ratten fist-pumped the air when the Blues saluted, it was smiles all round.